1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen
I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to predict
to tell of or describe beforehand
people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of presage
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Economist Claudia Sahm is an expert (if not the expert) on the conditions that presage a recession and how policymakers should react as a result.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Noun
There’s a kind of implicit prayer in this that the withering of today’s Hollywood system is a presage for something better, giving the entire production a painful, nostalgic quality that tugs at your chest even as what unfolds before you is remarkably dumb.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
Verb
Yet the demands of modernity produced some humane outcomes that also presaged the future.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Economist Claudia Sahm is an expert (if not the expert) on the conditions that presage a recession and how policymakers should react as a result.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
-
Nearly one in five feel pressured to keep working even when sick.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The pairing of Day-Lewis and DiCaprio is electric, and seeing Leo go toe-to-toe with the legendary thespian feels like Leo is finally living up to his potential as an A-lister.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Also like its forerunner, HBO’s latest ends each episode at a moment of peak tension.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
These were the forerunners of today’s robots.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Knowing this value helps scientists predict chemical stability and reaction pathways.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
As the dust slowly settles, Democrats predict a wave of outrage, especially over the new voting restrictions.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Add the power of premonition to the growing collection of Volantis’ gifts.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The data in the new study validates these premonitions.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eyes wide, panting near panic, Foster perfectly captures the audience's own fear of being alone in the dark with a monster.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s neighbors, particularly Turkey and Iraq, are preparing contingency plans including border fortifications and refugee shelters amid fears of a potential crisis.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Through transforming domestic coal ash into high-value industrial materials, the company is creating downstream manufacturing of end-products such as paper and paper products, textiles, building and construction materials, carbon fiber precursors, automobile parts, airplane parts, and more.—
Nick Franck,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The only other casting precursor is the Artios Awards, where OBAA and The Secret Agent were ineligible since their casting directors aren’t members of the Casting Society.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Another couple moved their entire wedding into a massive underground garage, where hundreds of celebrants could party worry-free.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
So there was just a lot of worry about whether or not these would continue to be positioned correctly in the market.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
